Take Action Now

• Contact your legislators and tell them to VOTE NO on House Bill 1086

Tell Five Friends, Make Two Calls (or More!)

Tell Your Legislators to Vote NO on House Bill 1086

When to call: Before Monday Morning, Jan 26 9:30am 

Why: HB 1086

Who: House Education Committee Members (see list below)

Phone: House 800-382-9841

Message: 

Hello, I’d like to leave a message for ___________________

My name is __________, and I am a ____________ (parent, grandparent, teacher, nurse, mom, dad, etc.). 

I am calling to urge you to vote NO to House Bill 1086. Indiana’s public schools serve all students, regardless of religious belief. Public schools should not be required to display religious texts. This bill undermines religious freedom, invites litigation, and distracts from the real work of educating Indiana’s students.

Rep. Robert Behning

Rep. Michelle Davis

Rep. Martin Carbaugh

Rep. Becky Cash*

Rep. Andrew Ireland

Rep. Julie McGuire

Rep. Zach Payne*

Rep. Hunter Smith

Rep. Jake Teshka

Rep. Vernon Smith*

Rep. Edward DeLaney

Rep. Sheila Klinker

Rep. Tonya Pfaff

* Extra focus on these legislators

https://indianacoalitionforpubliced.org/call-legislators/

https://indianacoalitionforpubliced.org/email-legislators/

Testify 

Monday, 9:30am – Testimony is being heard on HB 1086  in the House Chamber by the House Education Committee. 

You can learn more about testifying at the Statehouse on the ICPE advocacy page.  

More Details

This bill is not about education—it’s about government-mandated religious indoctrination  in public schools. Families should direct their children’s faith–not the state.

States with Enacted or Attempted Ten Commandments Display Laws

This isn’t an isolated effort. In recent years, several  states have pursued or passed similar mandates. However,  federal courts have repeatedly blocked or struck down these laws as violations of the constitutional separation of church and state, and legal battles are ongoing, with appeals reaching higher courts.

• Louisiana — Passed a law requiring Ten Commandments displays in every public classroom (House Bill 71). That law was then blocked as unconstitutional by federal courts under the First Amendment.

   

• Texas — Passed Senate Bill 10 in 2025 mandating Ten Commandments posters in public school classrooms. Enforcement has been challenged in federal court and temporarily blocked on constitutional grounds.

   

• Arkansas — Passed Act 573 in 2025 requiring displays in public schools and government buildings; that law has been blocked by a federal judge as likely unconstitutional. 

This bill will force public schools into litigation at taxpayer expense. These precious funds could be used for students and their education instead.

Additional Reasons to Not Pass This Bill

• Faith and morality are best taught by families and faith communities, not by government mandate.
• Our public schools should unite communities and prepare students for the future—not impose ideology.
• Honoring faith traditions means protecting them from government control or misuse.
• True religious freedom protects minority beliefs as much as majority beliefs.
• HB 1086 violates the long-standing principle of religious freedom in the anti-establishment clause of the Constitution by using taxpayer-funded schools to promote a specific religion.

Bottom Line

Public schools serve all children and must remain welcoming to all. HB1086 is divisive, unconstitutional, and will be costly to taxpayers. Vote no.

* As always, please remember the following guidelines when reaching out to legislators:

• Remember to be polite and kind in your language and tone.
• Remind them public education is not a partisan issue.
• Encourage legislators to support legislation that strengthens public schools.
• Personal stories and anecdotes are particularly effective, whether it’s your own personal story or a close friend’s.
• Be disciplined in your messaging: the best way to build support for your position is to keep communication positive, bipartisan, inclusive, and single-issue.
• Avoid getting sidetracked with other issues you care about.
• If you are a constituent, mention that.